Communication device having the capability of performing information exchange between a facsimile medium and an electronic information medium such as an e-mail medium

Abstract

A communication device allows a user to get access from the outside via an external public line to obtain e-mail data stored in a device connected to an internal system via a computer network such as a LAN without causing a reduction in security. More specifically, the communication device is connected to a LAN via a LAN I / F and also connected to the public line via a line I / F. If the communication device receives a remote operation command via the public line, a CPU of the communication device gets access to a post office of an e-mail server so as to get e-mail data in accordance with the remote operation command. The obtained e-mail data is converted to facsimile image data and transmitted by means of facsimile to a specified destination.

Description

[0001]This application is a division of application Ser. No. 09 / 112,318, filed on Jul. 9, 1998.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a communications device capable of exchanging information between a facsimile medium and an electronic information medium such as an electronic mail medium.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]In addition to information exchange using a facsimile machine or a telephone device over a telephone line, exchange of electronic information in the form of electronic mail (e-mail) or the like through the Internet has become popular in recent years. E-mails have the capability of transferring various types of information such as images, voices, computer data, etc., as well as textual information. In companies, e-mails are usually used in such a manner that individual users of e-mails receive e-mails via their post office (also called a mail box) provided in an e-mail server installed in each comp...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device which allows a user to get access from the outside via an external public communication line so as to read an e-mail, which has excellent security and which can be easily installed.

[0018]It is another object of the present invention to provide a communication device which allows a facsimile machine connected to a public switched telephone network to serve as an e-mail client connected to a computer network.

[0021]It is still another object of the present invention to provide a communication device which allows a user to either delete or maintain e-mail data after reading it by means of remote access via a public switched telephone network, by issuing a selection command via the public switched telephone network, and which is thus convenient to use.

Problems solved by technology

Although it is also possible to get access to a post office from outside of the company via a telephone line or the Internet, such an access has the risk that confidential information is exposed to the outside.

To prevent such a risk, most companies do not allow access to post offices from the outside of the companies.

In even those companies that allow access to post offices from the outside, e-mails are encrypted or access is limited to that which is performed directly via a telephone line without using the Internet.

1. To establish a system which allows individuals to read e-mails from the outside, it is required to make modifications over the whole electronic information system in the company. Thus such a system is expensive not only in the initial installation but also in maintenance.

However, such a system needs hardware and software which are expensive not only in the initial installation but also in maintenance.

However, companies are not willing to establish such a system because the introduction of the system needs a large investment while the access to the system by researchers and engineers does not bring about a quick profit.

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